BT mum on Pipex buy-out rumours

Telco tight-lipped over WiMAX plans

BT has declined to comment on weekend press reports that it is planning a £350m bid for broadband ISP Pipex.

The Business claims the UK's dominant fixed line telco is mulling a bid for the ISP, which is one of two operators (the other PCCW) to hold a licence to develop WiMAX networks in the UK.

BT wants to use WiMAX to help support a mobile service based on the technology, but needs the licence to proceed.

A spokesman for the monster telco declined to comment on the speculation, although it is likely to be pressed further when it announces its latest financials on Thursday.

Pipex is currently trialing its WiMAX service in tandem with Airspan Networks at the US-based firm's test facility in Stratford-upon-Avon.

It recently revealed that it is able to deliver a 5Mb wireless broadband service over a distance of just over a mile, and has also successfully carried VoIP calls. By summer, Pipex also hopes to begin testing the wireless transmission of TV over the network. ®